“Among the supposedly elite and powerful individuals I have met, you could crudely classify two classes; those who know who they are, and those who say, ‘don’t you know who I am?’” – Rupert Murdoch
When I read this nugget in a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed by Rupert Murdoch, Chairman of News Corp, I immediately thought of two people, whose lives couldn’t be more different – Donald Trump and former President George W. Bush.
From the start, Trump has reminded us – as if we needed to be reminded – “I’m really rich, I don’t need anybody’s money, and I’m, like, a really smart person.” His name is emblazoned on Trump Towers in New York and on the fuselage of his jet and helicopters. We get it.
Bush knew he who he was and was, as they say, comfortable in his own skin. Though not as great as Trump’s, Bush never boasted about his wealth and was often the butt of jokes about his intellect, which he would often turn into self-deprecating humor.
Since leaving office, we have heard of numerous instances of good things done under the radar by Bush when media cameras weren’t present. Many examples have surfaced regarding his quiet hospital meetings with wounded veterans.
In Dana Perino’s book, “And the good news is,” she talks about witnessing two such meetings, including one in which Bush listened as a distraught mother yelled at him, and another in which tears rolled from the president as he put his forehead to that of an injured warrior who lay in his bed.
As I have stated earlier, I appreciate what Trump has done to stir the voting public which has had enough of political correctness, but he lacks the statesman-like qualities we expect from our president – someone who doesn’t have to boast “don’t you know who I am?
